Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Rural Community Organized Around Central Patios With Modular Layout

Authors:
Macarena Reinoso, Chiara Stornaiolo
Rural Community Organized Around Central Patios With Modular Layout

Project in-detail

Organized around a central swastika layout, the design integrates communal patios and modular housing to create a sustainable living environment that enhances agricultural practices in rural China.
5 key facts about this project
01
Central swastika layout promotes growth and communal interaction.
02
Modular housing fosters adaptability to various social needs.
03
Integration of agricultural plots encourages self-sufficiency.
04
Communal patios serve as focal points for social activities.
05
Design draws inspiration from traditional Siheyuan architecture.

The Urban Countryside project provides solutions to the challenges caused by urban migration in rural China. It focuses on turning the countryside into a place that is both livable and sustainable. With many people leaving rural areas for cities, the design aims to enhance community life while promoting agricultural practices. Inspired by the traditional Siheyuan, or courtyard house, the project emphasizes communal living through a thoughtfully organized layout.

Civic and Collective Spaces
Central to the design are communal areas that encourage both economic activities and leisure. These spaces include garden plots where residents can grow their own food, fostering a sense of self-sufficiency. Main streets are incorporated into the plan to support social interactions and commerce, making the environment lively and engaging. By providing shared spaces, the design aims to create connections among residents, enhancing the overall sense of community.



Individual and Private Spaces
The project also dedicates areas for individual use, allowing residents to cultivate personal gardens or have quiet leisure time. These individual plots promote a sense of ownership and pride. The design includes three types of modules: two housing options and one communal unit. Each of these is adaptable, allowing residents to modify their living spaces based on personal preferences. This modular approach encourages diversity within the community while maintaining a cohesive overall structure.



Architectural Layout and Adaptability
A significant feature of the design is the use of a swastika layout. This pattern not only organizes the space effectively but also connects various elements seamlessly. Communal patios serve as hubs where people can gather, share, and interact, fostering a strong community spirit. The design proposes essential services within a fixed infrastructure, ensuring the basic needs of residents are met while allowing flexibility in their individual spaces.

The careful balance between communal and private areas creates an environment where different aspects of life are intertwined. The project aspires to marry agricultural practices with contemporary living, offering a practical and long-term alternative to urban settings.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy